Sliding panel hardware



Jan. 13, 1959 R. J. BRINK ETAL SLIDING PANEL HARDWARE 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Filed Oct. 18, 1954 M m Q 1m H WM M m m MW Mv Jw M H 45 5. W flwmnw F 5yZ Jan. 13, 1959 R. J. BRINK E 2,867,859

' SLIDING PANEL HARDWARE Filed Oct. 18. 1954 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 46 I CL//-50 56\ 52f I I i --\53 m J ATTORNEY SLIDING PANEL HARDWARE Raymond J.Brink and John A. Buelow, St. Paul, Minn, assignors to DesignwareIndustries, Incorporated, St. Paul, Minn, a corporation of lvlinnesota'Application October 18, 1954, Serial No. 462,663

14 Claims. (CI. -19) This invention relates to an improvement in slidingpanel construction and deals particularly with a novel and inexpensivemanner of producing sliding panels for use for various purposes.

During recent years the use of sliding doors and sliding panels havebecome increasingly popular. As panels of almost every size andproportion are used, it is desirable to provide a sliding panelconstruction which may be used in conjunction with frames and panels ofvarious types. By producing sliding panel hardware which is adaptable tofit panels of various sizes, a complete frame and unit may be made up inan extremely short period of time. The present invention deals withsliding panel hardware of this type and which may be quickly and easilyemployed to form sliding panel doors or closures of any desired size andproportion.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a panelarrangement which is preferably in the nature of a rectangular framehaving two or more panels slidably supported therein. The frame may bequickly and easily secured adjoining a wall opening or the like and mayserve as a closure therefor. For example, the sliding panels may be inthe nature of mirrors which are slidably supported in a rectangularframe and which may be applied to a wall opening which may, or may not,be provided with shelves so as to serve as a bathroom cabinet or asimilar wall cabinet.

One of the important features of the present invention lies in the factthat the construction makes possible the use of the entire wall opening,as in preferred form all of the hardware is on the exterior surface ofthe wall. This is particularly important where the hardware is used inconjunction with a bathroom cabinet or vanity mirror cabinet where theWall in which the cabinet is formed is relatively shallow.

A feature of the present invention resides in the fact that theassembled unit is of unitary construction and is selfsustaining, and asa result it is more easily mounted on a wall or in a door opening thandevices of other types. Due to the fact that the sliding panels aremounted in a self-supporting frame, the panels always fit properly inthe frame and will operate with a minimum of friction. Furthermore, theconstruction is such that the panels will slide with a minimum of sound.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of slidingpanel hardware which includes a series of extrusions which may beassembled together to form the tracks or guides in which the slidingpanels are mounted. These extrusions are made in pieces of considerablelength and may be cut to form a frame of the desired dimensions. Bytaking elongated strips of frame forming material and cutting it to theproper dimensions, the frame may be quickly and easily formed and framesmay be custom built to any desired size or shape.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision ofsliding panel hardware which includes a frame member designed to besecured along the top and 2,857,359 Patented Jan. 13, 1959 ice bottomedges of a panel of desired size. Each such frame member preferablyincludes a channel portion designed to accommodate an edge of the paneland an op ositely directed channel. The oppositely directed channel isdesigned to accommodate wheels, rollers or other guides, which permitthe slidable support of the panels and permit the panels to easily rollalong tracks of suitable character.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the particularmanner which is employed for supporting the wheels within a downwardlydirect channel. The wheels are mounted in resilient clips which are alsochannel shape in form and which snugly fit Within the downwardlydirected channel at the lower edge of each frame member. Accordingly,the panels may be slidably supported by merely enclosing an edge of thepanel in an upwardly directed channel of the frame member, and bypressing spring clips into the downwardly directed channel of the framemember, these spring clips supporting rollers in properly spacedrelation. Accord ingly, the entire assembly operation can beaccomplished in an extremely short period of time.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of aframe for supporting a plurality of slidabl'e panels which is formed ofsimilar extrusions throughout the entire periphery of the frame. Inpreferred form the rectangular frame is produced of one or moreextrusions which are identical throughout the entire frame periphery.Added extrusions are usually applied along the bottom surface of theframe so as to provide tracks for the rollers. By forming the frame inthis manner a minimum of inventory must be maintained in order to formframes of any desired size.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the provision ofnon-metallic wedge-shaped members which fit into the upwardly openingchannels in the extrusions at the upper edges of the panels. Thesewedge-shaped members extend vertically above the channels and laterallybeyond the sides of the channel-shaped extrusions to prevent metal tometal contact between the extrusions and the channel-shaped frame inwhich it slides.

These and other objects and novel features will be more clearly andfully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the panel hardware showing thepanels in place Within a peripheral frame.

' Figure 2 is an enlarged section view through the constructionillustrated in Figure 1, the position of the section being indicated bythe line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through a portion of the structure, theposition of the section being indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view in enlarged form of one of the wheelsupports with the roller mounted therein.

Figure 5 is a sectional view through the wheel support illustrated inFigure 4. v

Figure 6 .is a bottom plan view of the wheel support shown in Figures 4and 5.

Figure 7 is an end elevational view showing diagrammatically one of thewheels used in the wheel support of Figures 4 through 6.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view through a portion of the apparatus.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the guides employed for holdingthe panels supported in their frame.

Figure 10 is a sectional view through a frame of modi fied construction.

A unitary panel support including a supporting frame the frame membersis best indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings and shows the channel ashaving opposed sides 1 6 and 1 9 with a connecting base 18. The forwardside 16 of the channel is outwardly bowed or bulged as indicated at 17for the purpose of improving the appearances of thestr'u'cture.

I The rear sid e 19 is designed to fit along the surface of a wall orother support and is provided with a right angularly extending flange 20designed to extend into a wall opening 21. The channel sides 16 and 19are also provided with inwardly projecting flanges 21 and 22 in opposedrelation. These flanges 21 and 22 are designed to limit the inwardinsertion of extrusion 23 as will be later described.

The channel sides of each frame member are provided with opposed grooves24 and 25 adjoining the flanges 21 and 22 and toward theopen side ofeach channel frame member. These notches 24 and 25 engage opposite edgesof the partition forming wall 26 of the T-shaped extrusion 23. Thisextrusion also includes a central dividing wall 27 which divides thechannel-shaped frame into two inwardly directed channels which are inside by side relationand which are designed to support the panels 11 and12.

In the formation of the generally rectangular frame 10,

the strips 13, 14, and 16 are cut with mitered corners which fittogether along a forty-five degree angled edge so that the extrusionsform a continuous frame. Corner members such as 29 are provided at eachcorner at the frame to connect the two joining frame members. As isindicated in Figure 2 of the drawings the corner member zamsy bechannel-shaped in form including a base panel 30, a channel side 31, anda second channel side 32. These channel sides and base are designed tofit within the outer portions of the outer extrusions and may beattached thereto by any suitable means, such as by screws 33 extendingthrough the rear channel side 19 of the outer extrusion and into thechannel side 32 of the corner member. As isindicated in Figure 1 of thedrawings, each corner member 29 is right angular, and fits within themitered ends of the frame members 13, 14 and 15 in a manner to beconcealed thereby.

Each outer frame member and the T-shaped extrusion 23 which fits withinthe same has been described as separate pieces which are assembledtogether. This has been done for simplicity of the construction.However, it is possible to extrude the frame members with the T-shapedextrusion integral with the outer extrusion and, accordingly, the framemay be made in this manner if it is preferred.

When the outer rectangular frame 10 is completed, extrusions areinserted in the lower portion of the frame to provide tracks on whichthe sliding panels may slide. The track forming extrusions areillustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings and are identified in general bythe numeral 34. Each of the extrusions 34 include a channelshaped bodyhaving a base 35 and parallel sides 36 and 37. A central web 39 extendsupwardly from the channel base 35 midway between thesides 36 and 37 butprojecting in the opposite direction. The track forming extrusions areof a width to fit snugly between a side of the outer extrusion and thecenter web 27 of the T-shaped extrusion. When the extr'usions34 areinserted in place, they I is best illustrated in Figure 7 of thedrawings.

4 form tracks having upwardly directed central webs 39 upon which thegrooved rollers of the panels may roll.

The upper edge of each of the panels 11 and 12 is enclosed within aframe which is indicated in general by the numeral 40. The lower edge ofeach of the panels is similarly enclosed within a frame, this framebeing identical to the frame 40 but being designated by the numeral 41.Each of the frame members 40 include an inner side 42 and an outer side43 which are joined intermediate the upper and lower edges of the sidesby a cross member 44. Thus, an H-sh-aped frame is produced which isformed within upwardly directed channel and a downwardly directedchannel. The downwardly directed channel acts to enclose the upper edgeof the panel 11 or 12 and is secured thereto. The frame fits upon thepanel with a friction fit and if desired a piece of tape coated withpressure sensitive adhesive may be pressed between the marginal edge ofthe panel and the sides of the channel so as to firmly attach the framemember to the panel. Cement or other suitable adhesive may similarly beemployed.

In general practice the panels are of one quarter of an inch inthickness and these panels may be of any suit-able material. In manyinstances the panel bodies are formed of mirrors particularly when thestructure is designed to form a wall cabinet. However, the panels may beof wood or other suitable composition where a mirror surface is notdesirable or necessary. Plate glass is commonly and effectivelyusedwhere transparency is desired.

With reference now to Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, these figuresillustrate spring clips which are employed to hold the rollers whichsupport the panels. The spring clips are indicated in general by thenumerals 46, each spring clip including a channel base 47 and generallyparallel sides 49 and 50. As is evident from the drawings, the channelside 50 includes a portion .51 which is generally parallel to the panel49 and side portions '52 and '53 which slant outwardly to a slightextent. This arrangement is made so that when the spring clips are urgedinto the space between the sides 42 and 43 of the channel frame members41, the edges of the clip will bind against the channel side and retainthe clip in a fixed position. The slight "bow of theclip sides which is'best illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings, tends to prevent eitheredgewise or downward movement of the clip.

From Figures 4 and '5 of 'the drawings it will be noted that the clipsides 49 and 50 are provided with aligned apertures 54 extending'th'erethroug'h for accommodation of a p'ivot'shaft such as 55 asillustrated in FiguresL'Z and 3 of the drawings. 'Eachpivot shaft 55 isdesigned to support a wheel or roller 56, the construction of'which Fromthe examination of this figure it will "be noted that the wheel orroller 56 is provided with'an axial aperture 57 into which the pivotshaft is pressed. The shaft 55 is provided with reduced diameter ends 58to hold the shaft from lateral movement. The intermediate portion of theshaft 55 holds the clip sides 49 and 5'0from being pressed togetherbeyond a predetermined amount. It willalso be noted that the wheel isprovided with a peripheral groove 59 extending thereabout 'between apair of flanges '60. Accordingly, the wheel 56 is well designed to runalong the track of rail 39 forming a part of the extrusion 34.

In Figure 9 of the drawings is disclosed a guide which is preferablyformed of resilient material and which is T-shaped in cross section. Theguide 61 includes a wedge-shaped body 62 which is of proper dimensionsto fit within the sides 42 and '43 of the upperframe member portion 40.The guides 61 'are'made'of'non-m'etallic material, and project above,and laterally 'beyondthe sides '42 and 43 of the extrusions 40 topreventmetal tomet-al contact between the extrusions '40 and the sides 16 and19 of the frame member 13. r

The operation of the structure isbelieved obvious from the foregoingdescription. The frame is'pro'duce'dby cutting the various frame members13, 14 and 15 to the proper dimensions. These frame members are attachedtogether by the corner members 29 in the manner previously described.Thus, a rectangular frame is formed for the accommodation of the panels11 and 12.

The T-shaped extrusions 23 are next inserted in the frame, theseextrusions being cut similarly to the outer frame members. The cornersof the extrusions 23 may be mitered or may be cut off to fit one againstthe other.

The extrusions 34 are next inserted in the lower frame member 14 in themanner best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. The bodies of thepanels 11 and 12 are next formed of the desired material and the framemembers 40 are attached to the upper edges of these panels, the framemembers 41 attached to the lower edges thereof. The lower frame members41 are provided with spaced sides 42 and 43 and a transverse connectingmember 44 or are identical to frame members 40.

After the frame members 40 and 41 are attached to the panels, therollers 56 are inserted between the sides of the clips 46, and theseclips are then inserted between the sides 42 and 43 of the lower channelmembers 40. Usually two such rollers are provided on the undersurface ofeach panel, although more of these rollers may be supplied if desired.

The T-shaped wedge members 61 are next inserted between the sides 42 and43 of the channel members 40. These members project somewhat above themembers 40, and laterally thereof, to prevent the members 40 fromdirectly contacting the sides 16, 19 of the frame member 13. The panelsare next inserted in the rectangular frame by inserting the upper edgeof each panel in its proper channel of the frame member 13, and swingingthe lower edge of the panel to a position above the proper channel ofthe frame member 114. The panel is then lowered until the rollers 56rest upon the proper track 39. The panels are held by gravity upon thetracks 39, but may be lifted and the lower end thereof swung forwardlyto remove the panels from the outer frame.

Buttons, such as 63, are supported on the lower frame members 41 so asto provide a means of sliding the panels and 11. These buttons 63 arerelatively short so that the two panels can clear one another whilesliding in their respective tracks.

In the construction described, the entire unit may be assembled andmounted, or the outer frame may be mounted and the panels then inserted.As the flanges 20 of the frame members 13, 14 and are substantiallyflush with the inner edges of these frame members, the opening in theframe may be the same size as the wall opening. Furthermore, as theframe is mounted on the wall surface, the cabinet formed may be the fulldepth of the wall cavity.

In Figure 10 of the drawings is shown a modified form of construction inwhich the hardware is built into the wall aperture, or is concealed. Inthis arrangement the outer frame members 13, 14 and 15 are omitted, anda rectangular channel-shaped frame 63 is substituted. The sides of theframe 63 each include a base 64, parallel sides 65 and 66, and a centralparallel web 67 therebetween. The extrusions 34 are placed in the bottomside of the frame 63, providing tracks 39 for supporting the panelrollers. Usually a frame or moulding member 69 is provided forwardly ofthe front sides 65 of the frame 63 to conceal the hardware.

This structure does not have the advantages of the previously describedconstruction, but is preferred when a concealed type of construction isdesired. Only one additional extrusion (that used to produce the sidesof the frame 63) is required to form this modification, as the structureis otherwise similar to the first described construction.

In accordance with the patent statutes, the principles of constructionand operation of my sliding panel hard ware have been described andwhile it' has been endeav ored to set forth the best embodiment thereof,it is desired to have it understood that obvious changes may be madewithin the scope of the following claims without departing from thespirit of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A sliding panel structure including in combination a rectangularframe consisting of four frame members of similar cross channel-shapedsection having mitered corners, the frame members being arranged withbases forming the periphery of the frame and with parallel sides formingthe front and rear surfaces, a partition extending between the channelsides spaced inwardly from each channel base, and a divider parallel to,and between, the channel side forming two side by side channel portions,panels within said frame, each panel having an H-shaped frame secured tothe upper and lower edges thereof forming channel grooves extendinglongitudinally of its top and bottom surface, rollers supported in saidchannel groove for supporting said panels, and a resilient guide securedin said top channel groove engaging the relative channel sides of saidrectangular frame.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 and including corner members at eachcorner of the frame including angularly extending portions engaging intothe frame members within the sides thereof to connect said framemembers.

3. The structure described in claim 1 and in which the partition anddivider are integral and are removable from the channel frame members.

4. Sliding panel hardware including a rectangular frame ofchannel-shaped section having the base of the channel forming theperiphery of the frame, a T-shaped partition extending between the sidesof the channel frame and with the top of the T generally parallel to thechannel base and in spaced relationship thereto, said T-shaped partitionforming a dividing Web between the channel sides and extending inwardlyto form a pair of side-by-side channel portions therewith within saidframe, tracks supported by the portion of the T generally parallel tothe channel base in each of said channel portions in the lower portionof the frame and in spaced relationship to said base of the channel,panels in said frame each having a channel groove member secured alongtheir lower edges depending in spaced relationship thereto and extendingfrom end to end thereof, and rollers mounted in said channel groovessupported by said tracks.

5. The structure described in claim 4 and in which the rollers aresupported by U-shaped resilient clips engaged in said channel groovessaid clips being short relative to the length of said channel grooves,and being detachably engaged at any desired position in said grooves.

6. The structure described in claim 4 and in which the partition anddividing web are integral and are removably supported in the rectangularframe.

7. A hardware frame assembly for mounting in a wall opening andsupporting pairs of sliding panels therein comprising in combinationsimilarly shaped and extruded channel-shaped frame members including atop member, a bottom member and parallel side members having connectedmitered corners forming a continuous rectangular frame, each of saidframe members having an open side, opposed side walls and a connectingbase, one of said side walls being provided with right angularlyextending flange means adapted to extend into a wall opening and supportthe frame externally of the wall opening, and said top member and saidbottom member including a T-shaped central divider wall in spacedrelationship to said connecting base and forming with said side walls aparallel pair of spaced mounts for supporting sliding panels in spacedrelationship to said connecting base.

8. A hardware frame assembly for mounting sliding panels over a wallopening with retention of the frame externally of the wall comprising incombination, similarly shaped and extruded channel-shaped frame membersincluding a top member, a bottom member and '7 parallel side membershaving connected corners forming a continuous rectangular frame adaptedto be mounted externally of a wall opening, each of said frame membershaving opposed open sides, opposed external and internal side walls andconnecting bases, said internal side walls extending beyond said dividerwalls in spaced relationship to said connecting base for each side wall,and panel means mounted between said top-member and said'b0t tom memberto ride in sliding relationship between said parallel side members.

i 9. Sliding panel hardware in combination with a wall opening includinga rectangular frame including a pair of parallel side members andparallel top and bottom members, means connecting said side members tosaid top and bottom members to form a continuous frame structure, all ofsaid members being of similar cross-sectional shape and being channelshaped with the base of the channel forming the outer periphery of theframe and the front and rear sides of the channel being directedinwardly toward the center of the frame, a center partition web betweensaid front and rear sides forming two side by side channels, and a rightangularly extending flange on said rear side substantially flush withthe inner,

edge of each said channel side, the flanges of said members forming arectangular frame portion insertable into said wall opening.

10. The structure of claim 9 and in which each said central partitionmember is mounted on a cross member parallel to the base of the channeland spaced therefrom to provide a hollow tubular portion in each of saidmembers between the channel sides, and between the channel base and saidcross member.

1 11. The structure of claim 9 and in which each of said channel-shapedmembers is provided with opposed grooves in the inner surfaces of saidchannel sides, and in which said center partition web .is supported upona cross member extending between said channel sides parallel totthechannel base with tthe edges of the cross member engaged in saidgrooves.

12. A slidable closure panel assembly comprising a frame structure, thepanel being slidably mounted in the frame, at least one edge of thepanel having embodied therewith roller carrying means including anelongated groove of substantially uniform width, a plurality ofresilient substantially U-shaped clips, a roller mounted in. and'rotatably carried by each clip and constituting a complete unit, eachclip being provided with portions extending outwardly to engage opposedwalls of said groove,

said portions being spaced a distance slightly greater than thedimensions of the interior cross section of the groove, and the clipsbeing pressed into the groove in spaced apart relation therein and heldtherein solely by frictional engagement of the clip with opposedportions of walls defining the groove, and track means embodied with apart of the frame on which the rollers roll to allow sliding movement ofthe panel thereon relative to the frame.

13. The structure set forth in claim 12 and including means forconfining the upper edge of the panel during sliding movement thereof.

14. A sliding closure panel assembly comprising a frame structure, suchpanel being slideably mounted in the frame, at least one edge of suchpanel having embodied therewith roller carrying means including anelongated groove of substantially uniform width, a plurality ofresilient substantially U-shaped clips, including a pair of resilientarms respectively having a pair of opposed shaft receiving aperturesformed therein, a roller shaft having the end portions thereofrespectively insertable into said apertures and a pair of stopelements'prd vided on said shaft in predetermined spaced apart relationand of a size to respectively engage the inside Walls of said clip armsto positively limit the inward movement of said clip arms and produce aneffective fulcrum line about which the outer free ends of said armsresiliently swing, a roller carried by said shaft for rotation on theaxis of the shaft and combining with the clip and shaft to form acomplete unit, each clip arm being provided with portions extendingoutwardly to engage opposed walls of said groove, the spacing betweensaid stop elements maintaining said outwardly extending portions inspaced apart relation a distance slightly greater than the dimensions ofthe interior cross section of the groove, said clips being pressed intothe groove in spaced apart relation therein and held therein solely bythe frictional engagement of the outwardly extending portions of theclip arms with opposed portions of the walls defining the groove, andtrack means embodied with a part of the frame on which the rollers rollto allow sliding movement of the panel thereon relative to said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,527,740 Kurtzon Oct. 31, 1950 2,659,939 Greig Nov. 24, 1953 2,663,917Peterson Dec. 29, 1953 2,703,159 Van Fleet Mar. 1, 1955 2,719,340 Bestet al. Oct. 4, 1955 2,770,487 Isbell Nov. 13, 1956 2,804,181 Haynes Aug.27, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 497,542 Germany May 8, 1930

